Maine Footy Is the Soccer Experience More Mainers Need to Discover

Maine has quickly become one of America's hottest destinations for soccer, thanks to the incredible rise of Portland Hearts of Pine and the upcoming launch of a professional women's team.

However, Hearts of Pine aren't the only game in town. I recently had the chance to check out Portland's pro-am women's soccer team, and it was an absolute blast. Let me introduce you to Maine Footy Soccer Club.

Who are the Maine Footy?

Founded in 2023, Maine Footy is a women's soccer club that plays its home matches in Portland. The team competes in the United Women's Soccer (UWS), a pro-am league featuring current collegiate players and recent graduates.

Maine Footy plays in the Northeast Division of UWS League 1, where it faces teams from across New England, including another Maine club, the Mystics, who play out of Auburn.

This is a very competitive level of soccer, with many rosters loaded with Division I talent from top programs. Maine Footy's squad includes players from schools such as Florida Gulf Coast University, the University of San Francisco, the University of South Carolina, Boston College, and numerous New England colleges.

Maine Footy calls two fields home: Memorial Field at Deering High School and Fitzpatrick Stadium, which is also home to Portland Hearts of Pine.

I was excited to check out Maine Footy, especially after two of its players, Grace Wilson and Emma Badger, joined us on the morning show I co-host on WHOM. They were wonderful guests and spoke passionately about what the club means to them, both as players and as people.

Immediately after the interview, I bought a pair of tickets for my wife and me to attend their home opener at Fitzpatrick Stadium on Sunday, May 31, against the Worcester Wanderers.

I have to say, it was a terrific value. At just $15 per ticket, it's a fantastic deal for such a high level of soccer. Plus, Fitzpatrick Stadium is a great venue to watch a match, making it an easy choice to support the Footy.

We arrived while the teams were warming up, and the first thing I noticed was a solid level of fan support. Considering this is still a young franchise trying to build awareness, it was great to see a strong crowd, especially younger players who undoubtedly look up to these athletes.

It was also fantastic to see a good number of members from Dirigo Union, the supporters group for Hearts of Pine, in attendance. They were vocal throughout the match, bringing drums, horns, and chants that helped create an exciting atmosphere.

As the game went on, I was genuinely impressed by the pace and quality of play. I follow college soccer fairly closely, so seeing these athletes perform at that level, or even higher at times, was a real treat. There were plenty of scoring chances, physical play, crisp passing, and excellent goalkeeping.

Speaking of goalkeepers, Maine's keeper was an absolute force. That just happened to be Grace Wilson, one of the players who joined us on the show. Wilson was everywhere, making countless saves, distributing the ball beautifully, and commanding her back line. It was an absolute pleasure to watch her play at such a high level.

Speaking of that back line, it was anchored by team captain Emma Badger, our other guest from the show. The former FGCU center back was dynamic, physical, and showcased exactly why she wears the captain's armband.

The score remained tied late into the match before Worcester managed to score twice. Maine responded with a goal by Bailey Hatch off a late corner kick and applied tremendous pressure during the closing minutes, nearly completing the comeback. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. While it was a tough loss, Maine Footy's determination was commendable, and there's no question this team competes at a very high level.

Overall, it was an incredibly fun match and certainly won't be my last. My wife and I are already looking forward to making another trip to see them this summer.

I can't recommend Maine Footy enough. It's tremendous entertainment and high-level soccer that's enjoyable for fans of all ages. Plus, if you have a young player coming up through the ranks, it's a fantastic opportunity to see what it takes to compete at the collegiate level.

Where Can You Find Out More Information About Maine Footy?

You can find more information about Maine Footy on its website and check out some of its awesome merchandise. (Seriously, what is it with soccer teams in Maine and their incredible merch?)

READ MORE: Maine Savings Amphitheater Unveils New Après Sky Deck in Bangor

Best of luck to Maine Footy the rest of the season!